My name is Victor. My Father-God is a self-made millionaire. He is also a tyrant and a cheapskate. An ultraconservative in his political science, he rants about progressive causal agent, taxes and governing disbursal. That didn't stop him from building up a remunerative business concern relying in magnanimous part on government declaration. One of his pet bombast is about American kids being spoiled rotten.

"They all ought to be tossed out on their own as soon as they reach the age of majority,"he declared loudly and often."Let ‘ em sink or swim."

Knowing that, it still came as quite a shock when Dad turned me out of the star sign with not much Sir Thomas More than the clothes on my cover on the day after I turned 18. I'd just graduated from high schoolhouse the week before.

"Why ? What have I done wrong ?"I asked him.

"You haven't done anything wrong,"he replied."I've just decided to practice what I preach. Please understand it's nothing personal. I'd like to see what form of man this makes out of you."

"This is kind of sudden, Dad,"I said."What about my college architectural plan ?"

"Figure it out for yourself. Just assume that I died suddenly and left you penniless."

"What does Mom cerebrate about this ?"

"I think you'll discover your mother agrees with me completely on this so it'll be a wasteland of time to go crying to her."

Well, Mom didn't really agree with Dad on this. She just didn't argue with him which she knew would be pointless. She slipped me some John Cash Dad didn't know about along with a telephone number of a personal inter-group communication. I still had to consecrate up plans to attend the university I'd been accepted to.

I got a job through Mom's friend, rented a two bedroom apartment with three other guys and enrolled in the local junior college. I had zero link with my father. It was okay if I never saw him again as far as I was concerned.

Mom called me a couple of month later and advised me to beg, adopt and steal whatever money I could drum up and invest in a particular gillyflower. It was obvious she had some inside information learned from her influential social round but I wasn't about to rat her out to the security measures and Exchange military commission. She even hocked a bunch of her jewelry so I'd have plenty of money to indue. I did pretty well by that information and was capable to pay her back so she could get her jewelry out of hock. I didn't suddenly start living it up though. I began to seriously analyze the stock market and found I had a endowment for picking undervalued stocks. I reinvested my profits and continued to live a Spartan existence. Also, Mom continued to commit me breed tips whenever she could so that helped, too. fasting forward two years. I received a call from my mother.

"Your male parent wants you over to the house,"Mom said when I answered the phone.

"That's a surprise. What's the occasion ?"

"I don't know. He's being very secret, but he says it's important and the Sooner the better."

"Do you think I should accept ?"

"I don't see the scathe in listening to what he has to say. Maybe it's ripe news. I'd passion to see you back home."

"In that case I'd be more than happy to accept."

Dad greeted me as if he really missed me when I arrived yet he seemed sort of nervous. I probably wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't been around for a while but this was a marked change from his usual self confident aura.

"I'm really proud of what you've accomplished, Vic."

"I really seaport't accomplished anything, Dad, other than to support myself."

"Well, that's an acquirement in itself in this day and age. For a while I thought your mother was somehow supporting you on the sly, but I would have found out if she did."I wondered if he'd been having me spied on. I was glad I kept a low profile ; very little social life and no lady friend.

"I think it's time I brought you into the company, son."

"I still want to get my degree, Dad."

"You don't need no stinkin'degree when you have an executive positioning waiting for you in the category business organisation. There's money to be made and I'll show you how to make it. Of course, the work is laborious and the 60 minutes are long but the reward are well worth the effort."well, this was a variety of heart. Dad was of the opinion that bringing me into the company was unlimited nepotism which he thoroughly disapproved of unless I had proven myself elsewhere first. I wondered if he was ill.

"I'll certainly consider it,"I replied. I didn't really want to work for my dad. He was a entire jerk in my opinion. With my own fate, I wouldn't have to operate for anyone.

"What's to consider ?"He took a long pull on his drinking and then said,"Come into the study. There's something I want to talk about with you in private."I shrugged my shoulders and looked at Mom. She responded by shrugging her shoulders, too. I followed Dad into the study and closed the door behind me.

"What I have to say has to stay private between the two of us,"Dad said."Agreed ?"

"Agreed."He picked up a black and flannel photo up off his desk and handed it to me. It was a scene of a Pres Young and beautiful woman.

"She's gorgeous,"I said."I think I'm in love."Dad smiled at that.

"She looks even better in person. Her gens is Ana and she's 19 age old ; a girl of a flush Mexican guest. Not only is she gorgeous, but she's smart and charming also. She speaks five languages fluently. Any man would be prosperous to have her as a wife."

"You want me to meet her ?"

"I want you to marry her."

"You want me to what ? Uh, I haven't even met the miss, Dad."She was a beauty all rightfield but what if we didn't get along ? I wasn't fix to root down anyway.

"You'll meet her as ahead of time as tomorrow. You'll be a married man by this metre following calendar week. Where are you going ?"

"I'm leaving and I'm not coming back."

"This is matter of life and dying, son."He sounded panicky.

"Whose life, Dad ? You honorable stop dancing around and depart being straight with me."

"I, uh ... had a brief affair with Ana on a late business trip-up to Mexico. She's carrying my child. Her father was about to get me tossed into a vat of acid when he found out. The lonesome thing that saved my life sentence was me agreeing to this match."I nodded my head. It began to make sense.

"Well, I didn't agree to anything."

"He'll cause me killed if you don't go through with this. He's a man of his word."

"Money lecture. Pay him off."

"He's not interested in money. He has mess of wealth. He's interested in his good sense of honor and saving face."

"So, in edict to carry through your ass, I have to get hitched with some bimbo who doesn't know the word ‘ no'in five languages and recruit your bastard as my own ?"

"You won't regret it. You'll be well compensated."

"But you've always preached that a man has to hold responsibleness for his actions. And I know you're a man who drill what he preaches. Don't take this personally, but I think you won't have me to rely on."

"But—

"Just assume I died suddenly and left you childless."

"Goddammit ! This isn't funny !"

"I'm not trying to be funny."

"I'll make certainly you don't get a dime of my money."

"Take your money and stuff it ! I've found I can get along quite well without it."

"What the heck is going on here ?"Mom was standing at the open door looking at us. We'd been raising our voices and that attracted her attention.

"We're having a private discussion, lamb,"Dad said. Mom looked at me. I shrugged my shoulders.

"I'm pledged to secrecy, Mom. I'm leaving anyway."

"public lecture to him,"Dad exclaimed.

"Talk to him about what ?"

"Go ahead and order her, please, Vic."He seemed resigned.

"Your husband knocked up a guest's daughter and I have to espouse her so her father doesn't have him tossed into a vat of acid."

"And just when was I supposed to be told about this,"Mom asked.

"After everything had been agreed to,"Dad replied.

"I wasn't to feature any say in the matter while you ruined our son's future ?"

"I assumed your concord. I don't think you would have thought otherwise given the consequences."

"Oh, I don't know. I think I'm beginning to like the idea of being a plentiful widow."Dad looked stricken.

"eve my wife is against me !"

"Don't worry about being cut out of the will, Victor. Everything goes to me anyway."

"Thanks, Mom."

"You two are talking like I'm already all in,"Dad screamed.

"You made your choices, dearest. Victor and I have made our choices."

"The society won't be worth a dime without me."

"I'm not naïve, pricey. I know I can sell it for quite a lot based on the existing declaration the company has."Dad sat down and covered his face with his hands.

"I might as well blow my brains out to get it over with."

"Could you do it outside ? Then I won't have to ask the housekeeper to clean up the roue and mastermind splatter."

"Too bad you can't run the company yourself, Mom."

"Oh, I think I could do it and quite well, too."

"You were a cocktail waitress when we met."










"I was working as a cocktail waitress when we met. I was also a fulltime educatee finishing up my business degree. You seem to have forgotten that part. You also seem to induce forgotten about me helping you out in the early on years of the commercial enterprise. And don't think I don't have my reservoir within the company that prevent me up to date on what's going on."The poor man looked as if he was in shock. My dad wasn't used to not getting his way and it was going to cost him his lifetime.

"I'll marry Ana and join the party,"I said.

"That's great,"Dad shouted. He was grinning from ear to ear. Mom didn't look too happy.

"So you're going to sacrifice your future in fiat to spare your father's life, Victor. That's very commendable. What happens the next time your father knocks up another girl ? We don't have another son to save his worthless hide."

"That will never happen,"Dad swore."I've learned my lesson."

"Well, I do have an important condition,"I said."And it's a non-negotiable return it or forget it proposition."

"Anything !"

"Mom will direct over the society's operations. You and I will be working for her."

Mom liked the melodic theme. Dad ranted and raved and claimed it couldn't be done. My parents were the resole shareowner so that was bullshit. I reminded him there was a vat of Lucy in the sky with diamonds waiting for him if he refused. We called in the companionship lawyer to get the agreement prepared and Mom called another lawyer to retrospect the former lawyer's study to agree for loopholes.

Mom and I wanted to wait until everything was signed, sealed and delivered before meeting Ana and her family. Dad claimed there wasn't any time. Ana's father wanted to satisfy me right away.

"Don't worry,"Dad said."I'm going to sign on the damned declaration. I mean, what choice do I throw ?"

The contract arrived the very day I was to meet Ana. Dad immediately found flaw with the wording even though both lawyers had approved it.

"Your mother and I will discourse it further while you're on your honeymoon."

"Your father won't preindication that declaration once you're safely married to this girl,"Mom told me privately."He's counting on your relationship not to let him get hurt."

"I shouldn't have given in so easily. I guess I screwed up."

"What are you going to do ?"

"I'll think of something."

Our node arrived. Ana's male parent, Mr. Gomez, was shown into the study where Dad and I were waiting. Mr. Gomez was accompanied by a giant who looked like he'd feel right at plate in a professional wrestle tintinnabulation. Mom was tasked with entertaining Ana and her mother. Mr. Gomez shook hands with me and ignored Dad.

"It's a pleasure to receive you, sir,"I said. I didn't smell that way but formality must be observed. He didn't respond in variety nor did he smile. He also didn't waste any time.

"You are to marry my daughter. Are you mindful of the circumstances behind this union ?"

"I am aware of the portion and my mother and I are deeply embarrassed by my father's irresponsible behavior. I offer my sincere apology on behalf of my female parent and myself."Mr. Gomez nodded. I could feel Dad's brilliance on me but he remained silent.

"Are you prepared to hook up with my girl without wait and without booking ?"

"Well, there is a suit for delay but I assure you the crusade isn't of my doing."

"Please explain."

"My male parent agreed—

"Now just one hour,"Dad interrupted.

"Shut up !"my futurity Father of the Church in law shouted. The whale escort made a rumbling sound and Dad shut up.

"My father agreed to certain management variety in the companionship in parliamentary law that my mother's interestingness are protected from any of his reckless demeanor in the future. He's hesitant to sign it now and I fear he won't mark once I'm married to your daughter."

"Where is this understanding now ?"

"On top of the desk."Mr. Gomez nodded.

"Which is your signature deal, my admirer,"he asked Dad.

"Uh, my right ?"

"You had better be sure because my comrade will break every bone in your leftover hired man if you haven't signed that document within the future half mo. He will leave your decent hand alone but he will start on other ivory after that."

"But—

"twenty-five seconds."Dad's middle were full of reproach, but I just raised my hands palms up in a helpless gesture. He reached for a pen on his desk and signed.

"Will you please witness his signature ?"

"I will be pleased to do so. You will let me jazz if he tries to dispute this agreement."

"I'll do that. I guess I'm now ready to meet your daughter, but may I ask you a question ?"

"Of course."

"How does your daughter feel about marrying a man she's never met ?"

"You may ask her yourself when you meet. In any event, whatever she has to say won't diaphragm this marriage."I shrugged my shoulder joint and led them out to the support room to meet my fiancée.

Dad was right. Ana did look better in person, a lot better. A brunette beauty, she was about 5'6"in height. In her 3"heel she could look me straight in the eye which she only did for an flash ; deeply Brown University middle full of gloominess. Her optic remained fixed on the floor after that. Ana didn't offer me a grinning when we were introduced. I knew right away none of this union line of work was by her choice. Ana was dressed stylishly but conservatively. That outfit couldn't hide a very sexy body though. There weren't any outward signs of pregnancy yet.

"May I speak to you in private, please ?"She had a soft melodic voice.

"wait until you are married,"her Church Father snapped.

"The damage has been done, Father. What can he do that will make things worse ? I will speak to this man in private."Ana seemed noncompliant despite her predicament. This was a char used to getting her way. They had a staring contest for a patch and I guess dada blinked.

"Don't go far,"he said finally.

"We can talk in the study,"I suggested,"and sustain the doorway unlocked."

"Very well,"said Mr. Gomez. I handed Mom the signed contract bridge and led Ana to the study. As soon as I closed the threshold she began to speak.

"We were attending a fiesta and I was having my kickoff sense of taste of alcohol ; real Daniel Chester French Champagne. I felt so grown up. I drank more than I should have got and began to flirt with your founding father, teasing him actually. I can only charge the alcohol because I was never attracted to him previously. We found ourselves alone and then one matter led to another. I woke up the next dawning with a splitting headache and sore all over. I vowed right there to never again concern alcohol nor again engage in premarital sex. I didn't realize at the time that I was already pregnant. Two months later I knew I was pregnant.

"My parents were furious when I finally confessed to them. My beginner's design to wed me off to a plentiful and right man had been spoiled. He vowed to kill us both for besmirching his laurels. He called me a hussy and former atrocious gens. I didn't care if he killed me then. I wanted to die. My mother calmed him down some and they hatched this program to splice me off to you. Your founder readily agreed for my parents would have gone ahead and had him killed if he had refused. I begged them not to postulate you since you were blameless but I couldn't convince them.

"I'm sealed you agreed to splice me only to save your begetter's living. I don't blame you. I don't seaport any ill will toward him myself. I know I'm as often to pick as him. Consequently, I've resigned myself to a loveless and sexless spousal relationship with you. I swear to honor and obey you in every way. I will always respect you. I know I don't any right wing to be respected by you in issue and I won't aim to you having a schoolma'am or schoolmarm. The exclusively thing I beg of you is to never publicly abase me."

"Is it my number to speak ?"Ana nodded and continued to study the floor.

"It's unfeigned I agreed to marry you to save my father's living. Even though he's a add up jerky virtually of the fourth dimension I do love him. I did get some measure of payback against him because of this predicament he found himself in and that was very comforting. However, we might detect ourselves back at solid one with my father in big difficulty because I can't accept a loveless and sexless married couple with you."Ana looked up in surprise.

"You could love me after what happened with your forefather ?"

"Only if you can have a go at it me in return. looking, cipher's perfect and everyone make mistakes. In any event, we never would have met if this hadn't happened. I find you caring as well as charming and beautiful. What else can a man ask for ?"

"Oh, superior, I feel like my nightmare is ending instead of just beginning if we can begin this matrimony with love in our hearts."It was same music to my ears when she said my name.

"You have a nice smile."

"You have given me reasons to smile. I think it will be very easy to love you."

"The feeling is mutual."I stole a kiss then. Ana blushed and then returned my kiss.

Ana and I were married in a quiet civil observance. She gave giving birth to a girl that we named Ana Victoria. Mom tried hard to dislike Ana but she couldn't do it. I think Mom decided that since I was happy it wasn't worth holding a grievance. The company has thrived with Mom at the helm and Dad out drumming up business. I never did join the fellowship. I make deal of money playing the stock market and have draw of fourth dimension to have lovemaking with Ana. She's pregnant again. Ana and her parents have reconciled.

Dad has toned down his rants quite a bit. His solitary criticism of my actions was that if he were in my position he would have driven a much intemperate bargain. That's full to do it. Live and learn .